Inserting tool for locating and anchoring a device in tubing



Sept. 28, 1965 J. w. TAMPLEN INSERTING TOOL FOR LOCATING AND ANCHORING A DEVICE IN TUBING 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 21, 1962 INVENTOR Jack W. Tomple n m W BY WW 6 ATTORNEYS Sept. 28, 1965 J, w. TAMPLEN 3,208,531

INSERTING TOOL FOR LOCATING' AND ANCHORING A DEVICE IN TUBING 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 21, 1962 Fig. I2

.INVENTOR Jack W. Tomplen p 1955. J. w. TAMPLEN 3,208,531

' INSERTING TOOL FOR LOCATING AND ANCHORING A DEVICE IN TUBING Filed Aug. 21, 1962 4 SheetsSheet 4 INVENTOR. JACK W. TAMPLEN BY M 1% United States Patent 3,208,531 INSERTING TOOL FOR LOCATING AND ANCHORING A DEVICE IN TUBING Jack W. Tamplen, Celina, Tex., assignor to 'Otis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 218,416 15 Claims. (Cl. 166-125) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well tools, and more particularly to locking means for locking well flow control and similar tools in place in a well flow conductor, together with a new and improved running tool for positioning the same in said well flow conductor.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide an improved locking device which may be accurately located and positively locked in place at a desired position in a well flow conductor, and which is designed to withstand fluid pressure differentials thereacross acting thereon in either direction longitudinally of the flow conductor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved locking device of the character described which is provided with means for preventing unintentional release or removal of the locking device from its locked position, particularly when a substantial pressure differential is acting thereupon in the direction in which the device is to be removed, thus reducing the possibility of the device being blown up the conductor during removal operations.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved locking device and a running tool of the character described which has means for selectively locating and locking the locking device in any one of a plurality of separate longitudinally spaced apart landing nipples or housings in a well flow conductor.

A still further object is to provide an improved locking device of the character described which utilizes the same locking element for both locating and locking the device at the desired one of the separate spaced apart landing nipples.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved selective locking device of the character described which is substantially free from sliding engagement with the bore wall of the well flow conductor during installation or removal of the device, except during the brief movement required for accurately locating and setting the tool at the desired location in the well flow conductor.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved selective locking device which is economical in construction and positive in action, and wherein the means for selecting the particular section or nipple or housing of the flow conductor in which the device is to be locked is incorporated in the inserting or running tool rather than in the locking device, whereby the expensive selective locating device portion of the assembly may be removed from the well and repeatedly used for installing other locking devices in other wells or at other locations within the same well.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a locking device of the character described which may be readily removed from locked position in the well flow conductor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a running and a locking device for use therewith which may be inserted in and removed from a well flow conductor on a flexible line lowering and removing mechanism manipulated by longitudinal movement thereof.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the upper portion of a locking device and running tool constructed in accordance with the invention showing the same being lowered through a well flow conductor to position therein;

FIGURE 2 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the lower portion of the locking device and the running tool therefor, being a continuation of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view, similar to FIGURE 1, showing the upper portion of the device of FIGURE 1 being lowered into position for locating and anchoring locking device in the landing nipple or housing of the well flow conductor;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 of the lower portion of the device showing the device being moved toward anchoring position in the well flow conductor, the view being a continuation of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is an isometric exploded view of the running tool dogs and the segments operatively connecting the same;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the running tool dogs of the running tool showing the same retracting upon encountering an obstruction during downward movement in the bore of the well flow conductor;

FIGURE 9 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the upper portion of the running tool and locking device showing the position of the parts with the anchoring device locked in place in the landing nipple or housing of the flow conductor;

FIGURE 10 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the lower portion of the running tool and locking device of FIGURE 9 showing the device locked in place in the landing nipple;

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the locking device locked in anchoring position in the landing nipple or housing in the well flow conductor;

FIGURE 13 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, taken at an angle of ninety degrees about the vertical axis to the view of FIGURE 12; and,

FIGURE 14 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the slidable locking sleeve of the locking device.

In the drawings, particularly FIGURES 1 and 2, the numeral 20 designates a string of tubing or other tubular well flow conductor, which is shown to be made up of integral joint tubing sections, but which may equally as well be conventional threaded and coupled tubing of any other type. Connected in the string of tubing at longitudinally spaced elevations therein are a plurality of landing nipples or housings 21 having boxes 22 at their upper ends and pins 23 at their lower ends threadedly connected to the joints of tubing 20 thereabove and therebelow. The bore 24 of each of the landing nipples is slightly smaller than the bore of the sections of tubing strings 2t), and so forms a slight restriction in the flow passageway of the flow conductor at each of said landing nipples or housings, which is defined by an upwardly facing shoulder 25 and a downwardly facing shoulder 26 at the opposite ends of such reduced bore. Each of the landing nipples is provided intermediate the ends of the restricted bore 24 thereof with an internal annular locating and locking groove having a downwardly and outwardly inclined shoulder 31 at its upper end and an upwardly and outwardly inclined shoulder 32 at its lower end. Intermediate the ends of the groove 30 is an internal annular locking and seating flange 30a having an upper abrupt upwardly facing stop shoulder 33 substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the nipple and a lower downwardly and outwardly extending locking shoulder 34 formed thereon. The flange 30a extends inwardly to substantially the same diameter internally as the restricted bore 24 of the housing. The locating and locking groove 3% is provided for the purpose of locating and anchoring a suitable locking and supporting device 35 within the nipple or housing at such location in said well flow conductor.

The locking and supporting device '35 includes an elongated tubular mandrel 36 having a bore 37 extending therethrough and having an external annular packing assembly 38 mounted thereon adjacent its lower end. The packing assembly includes a plurality of oppositely facing V-type packing rings 39 and 40 separated by a spacer 41 and confined against upward movement at their upper end by an external annular flange 42 on the mandrel and at their lower end by the upper end of a well flow control device or other suitable well tool 43 which is threaded onto the lower threaded end 44 of the mandrel. The upper portion 45 of the mandrel 36 is substantially reduced in external diameter and a tubular dog carrying sleeve 46 is screw-threaded onto the upper threaded end portion 47 of the larger lower portion of the mandrel above the external annular flange 42, the lower end of said dog carrying sleeve abutting the flange.

The dog carrying sleeve 46 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending lateral openings or windows 48 in which are laterally movably disposed a pair of positioning and locking dogs 50, each of said dogs having outwardly extending bosses 51 and 52 formed thereon having a configuration designed to conform substantially to and to engage in the internal annular groove 30 of the landing nipple. The upper boss 51 has a downwardly and outwardly extending beveled surface 53 at its upper end and a laterally abrupt surface 54 at its lower end adapted to engage the stop shoulder 33 at the upper end of the flange 36a: in said groove of the landing nipple. The lower boss 52 is provided with opposed outwardly convergent upper and lower beveled shoulders 55 and 56, respectively, which are designed to be received within the lower portion of the groove 30 below the flange 30a and to engage the downwardly facing shoulder 34 and the upwardly facing shoulder 32 in said groove. The dog carrier sleeve 46 has a bore which is larger than the external diameter of the mandrel 36, whereby an internal annular space 49 is provided within the sleeve between the sleeve and the upper reduced portion of the mandrel, and an elongate locking sleeve 60, which is slidable on the upper reduced portion 45 of the mandrel 36 is telescopically received within the annular space 49 between the reduced portion of the mandrel and the dog carrying sleeve.

The lower portion 61 of the locking sleeve member is enlarged in external diameter at its lower end to provide an upwardly facing retaining shoulder 61a thereon at the upper end of said enlarged portion, said shoulder 61a engaging a downwardly facing shoulder 62 formed on the under side of an internal annular flange 63 at the upper end of the dog carrying sleeve, whereby the locking sleeve is prevented from upward displacement off the mandrel and from within the annular space between the mandrel and the slip carrying sleeve.

When the locking sleeve member 60 is in its upper position shown in FIGURE 2, the locking dogs are movable laterally of the dog carrier sleeve 46 between an outer projecting locking position shown in FIGURE 10 and the inner retracted position shown in FIGURE 2. The thickness of the dogs is such that when the dogs are in the retracted position the inner surfaces of the dogs may engage the reduced portion 45 of the mandrel 36 and the bosses 51 and 52 will be disposed in substantial alignment with the external periphery of the dog carrying sleeve 46, where they will not ride against the bore wall of the well conductor. In the outer expanded locking position, shown in FIGURE 10, the bosses 51 and 52 of the dogs project outwardly of the external periphery of the dog carrying sleeve 46 and are adapted to engage within the locating and locking recess 30 of the landing nipple. The outward movement of the dogs is limited by longitudinal lateral flanges 64 and 65 formed on the opposite sides of each of the dogs, as clearly shown in FIGURE 11; while longitudinal movement of the dogs relative to the dog carrying sleeve and the mandrel is limited by engagement of the lower ends of the dogs with the upwardly facing shoulder 36a on the mandrel and the upward movement i limited by engagement of the upper ends of the dogs with the upper ends of the windows 48. The flanges 64 and 65 engage the longitudinal relieved edges 48:: of the longitudinally extending lateral window 48 of the dog carrying sleeve, and such engagement limits the outward movement of the dogs as is apparent in FIGURE 11. When the dogs are in the outer projecting position, the lower enlarged portion of the locking sleeve 60 may move downwardly on the reduced portion 45 of the mandrel between the mandrel and the dogs to positively hold the dogs in such outer position. External serrations 75 formed on the lower enlarged locking portion of the locking sleeve are designed to engage corresponding internal serrations 76 formed on the inner surfaces of the locking dogs 50, when the locking sleeve is moved downwardly on the mandrel between the dogs as will be hereinafter more fully described. It is to be noted, however, that the thickness of the dogs is such that the enlarged lower locking portion of the locking sleeve cannot enter between the dogs and the reduced portion of the mandrel until the dogs have moved to their outer projecting locking position. For example, while the dogs are only partly expanded, as shown in FIGURE 5, the lower beveled end of the enlarged lower locking portion engages the upper inner edges of the dogs to prevent further downward movement of the locking sleeve until the dogs are moved further outwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 10.

An elongate spring member 66, which is preferably substantially rectangular in cross-section, has a hook 66a at its upper end engaged in an aperture 67 formed in the wall of the dog carrying sleeve, and the spring extends downwardly between the dog carrying sleeve and the locking sleeve within an elongate longitudinal slot or groove 68 formed in the exterior of the locking sleeve, as shown in FIGURE 2. The upper end of the spring, being confined within a narrow slot 48b in the dog carrying sleeve above and communicating with the window 48, is held against lateral deflection. The lower portion of said spring engages in a longitudinal groove or slot 69 formed in the rear or inner surface of each of the locking dogs 50 and the lower end of said spring engages the outer surface of an upstanding flange 70 at the lower end of said groove formed on the rear or inner side of said locking dog at the inner end of a transverse aperture 71 formed in the central portion of the dog and ending at the lower end of the groove 69. Intermediate its ends, the elongate spring is formed with a reverse bend portion 72 which extends first inwardly and then downwardly to provide an offset in such mid-portion of the spring which disposes the lower portion of the spring inwardly adjacent the reduced portion 45 of the mandrel. The lower portion of the groove 69 adjacent the lower end of the enlarged portion of the locking sleeve 60 is slotted or cut completely through the locking sleeve, and the offset or reverse bend portion 72 of the spring is disposed within this slotted portion when the locking sleeve is in the upper position on the mandrel shown in FIGURE 2. The slotted or cutaway portion at the lower end of the groove permits the spring to move inwardly so that the lower portion of the spring lies substantially along the exterior of the reduced upper portion 45 of the mandrel and the lower end of the spring resiliently biases and holds the locking dog inwardly in its retracted position, shown in FIGURE 2.

The extreme upper end of the locking sleeve 60 is threaded into the lower end of a fishing neck or sleeve 80, which is provided with an internal annular flange 81 having a downwardly facing shoulder 82 against which the upper end of the locking sleeve 60 abuts to secure and position the fishing neck or sleeve with respect to the locking sleeve. The bore of the fishing neck or sleeve 80 above the upper end of the expander sleeve is enlarged as at 83 to provide an upwardly facing shoulder 84 therein for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fully explained. Within the extreme upper portion of the sleeve or neck 80 is formed an internal annular groove 85 having a downwardly facing shoulder 86 at the upper end, and the groove is adapted to receive the pulling dogs of a retrieving tool (not shown), which engage the shoulder 86, whereby the sleeve may be moved upwardly to move the locking sleeve upwardly with respect to the locking dogs in a manner which will be hereinafter more fully described.

An internal annular first retaining groove 90 having a downwardly and inwardly sloping shoulder or camming surface 91 at its lower end and a more abrupt inwardly and upwardly sloping shoulder or retaining surface 92 at its upper end is formed near the upper end of the bore of the locking sleeve 60, and a similar identically formed second retaining groove 93 having a downwardly and inwardly sloping shoulder or camming surface 94 at its lower end and a more abrupt inwardly and upwardly sloping shoulder or retaining surface 95 at its upper end is formed at the upper end of the locking sleeve and at the downwardly facing shoulder 82 of the internal annular flange 81 of the fishing collar or sleeve 80. These two spaced retaining grooves are provided for a purpose which will be more fully explained hereinafter.

A transverse shear pin aperture 97 is provided through the walls of the mandrel 36 in the external annular flange portion 42 of the mandrel, and the aperture is provided with internal screw threads in the outer ends thereof for receiving set screws 98 therein.

A suitable running or inserting tool R for locating and locking the locking device within the landing nipple 21 in the tubing string includes a body 100 having a longitudinal bore 101 therein and provided at its upper end with a reduced fishing neck 102 having a screw threaded pin 103 at the upper end thereof by means of which the body may be connected to suitable link jars, sinker bars and wire line socket comprising a flexible line running or lowering means common in the art, by means of which the inserting or running tool may be connected to a flexible line L for lowering the locking and supporting device 35 in the well tubing. The fishing neck is provided at its upper end with a flange 104 having an undercut shoulder thereon by means of which the device may be retrieved by suitable fishing tools (not shown) should the inserting tool be detached from the wire line lowering mechanism J. Within the bore 101 of the body 100 is slidably positioned an elongate core 105. A transverse connecting bar 106 is secured by means of a pin 107 in a cross slot 108 in the extreme upper end of the core and the bar extends outwardly of the core into an elongate longitudinally extending slot 109 formed in the wall of the body 100, whereby the core is slidably connected by means of said bar 106 to said body of the running tool,

so that longitudinal movement of the body will move the core 105 therewith upon engagement of the bar 106 with the opposite ends of the slot 109.

A suitable transverse bore 107a is provided in the body substantially adjacent the upper end of the longitudinal slots 109 in the body by means of which the pin 107 may be inserted through the aligned apertures in the core and in the transverse bar 106. This permits assembly and disassembly of the core from the body of the running tool.

The elongate core 105 of the running tool is connected by means of a shear pin 110 to the mandrel 36 of the locking device, as clearly shown in FIGURE 2. The shear pin 110 extends through a transverse opening 111 formed in the lower end of the core 105 and has its ends disposed in the lateral apertures 97 of the mandrel 36 of the locking tool. The shear pin is confined against displacement from the apertures 111 and 97 by means of the set screws 98 threaded into the lateral apertures of the mandrel 36 of the locking device. The locking device is therefore detachably secured by means of the shear pin to the core 105 of the running tool and is movable with the running tool by means of such connection.

A segmental collet sleeve is secured intermediate the ends of the core 105 above the shear pin 110. The collet sleeve is formed in two semi-cylindrical segments and has upwardly extending resilient collet fingers 121 formed on the upper portion thereof, said collet fingers having outwardly projecting bosses 122 at their upper ends conforming in configuration to the annular retaining grooves 90 and 93 of the locking sleeve 60. The collet sleeve has an internal annular flange 123 formed in its lower portion, and this internal flange is disposed within an internal annular groove 124 formed in the exterior of the core 105. The lower shoulder of the groove 124 is undercut and receives a downwardly projecting annular depending flange 125 on the lower end of the collet segments for preventing outward displacement of the lower portion of the collet segments from the groove. A suitable securing pin 126 is inserted through aligned transverse apertures formed in the flange portions of the collet segments and in the core 105, the outer ends 127 of the pin being upset or bradded to positively hold the collet segments in place on the core. The lower end of each collet segment projects outwardly beyond the external surface of the core and provides a downwardly facing shoulder 128 which is so positioned on the core that it engages the extreme upper end of the reduced portion 45 of the mandrel 36 of the locking device, as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. With the core secured to the mandrel 36 of the locking device and abutting the shoulders 128 of the collet segments, the bosses 122 on the resilient collet fingers 121 of the collet sleeve are disposed to engage in the lower internal annular retaining recess 90 in the locking sleeve 60 of the locking or anchoring device, as shown in FIGURE 2. The bosses 122 of the collet fingers 121 of the running tool, being of the same configuration as that of the retaining groove 90, resist downward movement of the locking sleeve as a result of the abutting engagement of the rather abrupt inwardly and upwardly sloping retaining surface 92 of the groove and 122a of the bosses, and thus resiliently retain the locking sleeve in the upper inoperative position during the running of the device into the well flow conductor 20.

The core 105 and the body 100 of the running tool are held against longitudinal movement with respect to each other by means of segmental lugs which are laterally movable in lateral apertures 141 formed in the lower portion of the wall of the body 100 and which engage in an external annular groove 142 formed in the exterior of the core 105 at a position to be engaged by the segmental lugs when the bar 107 carried by the core is disposed at the lower end of the slot 109 in the body of the running tool, as shown in FIGURE 1. The lug segments 140 are held in engagement in the groove 142 by means of a dog carrying sleeve 145 which is slidable on the exterior of the body 100 of the running tool and which has a bore 146 reduced at its lower end by an internal annular flange 147 which slidably fits on the lower portion of the body and an inturned annular flange 148 at its upper end which also slidably engages the reduced lower portion of the exterior of the body. The lower portion of the wall of the bore 146 of the sleeve 145 engages and retains the lugs in the groove 142. The dog carrying sleeve 145 is slidable longitidinally .on the body, upward movement of the dog carrying sleeve being limited by the engagement of the upper end thereof with the downwardly facing shoulder 139 at the upper end of the reduced lower portion 138 of the body of the running tool. The bore 146 of the dog carrying sleeve, by preventing outward movement of the lug segments 140 from the groove 142, positively connects the body 100 with the core 105 when the sleeve 145 is in the upper position on the body.

The upper end of the fishing neck or sleeve 80 of the locking or anchoring device 35 engages the lower end of the dog carrying sleeve 145 of the running tool to hold the same in its uppermost position in engagement with the downwardly facing shoulder 139 of the body of the running tool when the locking sleeve 60 of the latching device is in its uppermost position, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings. Elongate sensing or trigger dogs 150 are mounted within opposed elongate longitudinally extending slots or windows 151 formed in the dog carrying sleeve 145 of the running tool. The slots 151 are substantially longer than the dogs 150, whereby the dogs may move longitudinally of said slots and may likewise move laterally inwardly and outwardly thereof, as will hereinafter he more fully explained.

As shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawings, each of the dogs has an internal flange 152 which provides at its opposite ends laterally outwardly projecting pivot arms or studs 153 which are adapted to be received in recesses 154 provided in connecting sleeve segments 155, which are slidably confined within the upper portion of the bore 146 of the sleeve 145 and between said sleeve and the reduced lower portion 138 of the running tool body, whereby the engagement of the pivot arms or studs 153 in such recesses 154 and longitudinal sliding movement of the segments 155 within the bore 146 of the sleeve 145 provides for simultaneous longitudinal movement of the dogs with respect to the sleeve in the windows of said sleeve. A helical coil spring 156 is disposed within the bore 146 of the dog carrying sleeve 145 between the internal upper flange 148 and the connecting sleeve segments 155 and acts downwardly upon the upper ends of said connecting sleeve segments to bias the dogs downwardly of the sleeve 145 in the windows or slots 151 in such dog carrying sleeve. An internal annular flange 158 is formed in the bore 146 of the dog carrying sleeve intermediate the ends thereof and at the lower ends of the windows and this flange has an inwardly and downwardly sloping cam surface 159 formed on its upper end and communicating directly with the lower ends of the opposed lateral slots or windows 151 of the dog carrying sleeve. The inwardly and downwardly beveled lower ends 166 of the dogs 150 are slidable on this upwardly facing cam surface 159, whereby the lower ends of the dogs are cammed inwardly by such surface as a result of the downward biasing force applied to the connecting sleeve segments 155 by means of the spring 156 which is confined between the segments and the internal annular flange 148 at the upper end of the dog carrier. Each of the dogs has an external boss 165 formed on its lower end and provided with an upper outwardly and downwardly extending cam surface 166 and a lower outwardly and upwardly extending cam surface 167 thereon. Likewise, an internal boss 17 is formed on the lower end of each of the dogs, and this boss has a downwardly and outwardly inclined cam surface 171 at its lower end and an abrupt inwardly extending locking surface or shoulder 172 at its upper end. The exterior surface of the dogs above the pivot arms 153 is inclined inwardly and upwardly, as shown at 175a, whereby when the dogs pivot on the arms the upper ends thereof do not project outwardly to catch in any obstructions in the tubing or well conductor.

The laterally extending pivot arms 153 of the dogs engage between the reduced lower portion 138 of the body of the running tool and the inner bore wall of the dog carrying sleeve above the internal annular flange 158 in the bore of such dog carrying sleeve. Thus, the dogs are prevented from complete displacement outwardly from the windows of the dog carrier but may move longitudinally of such windows and may pivot about the lateral arms 153 to swing the bosses 165 laterally inwardly and outwardly relative to the windows.

As shown in FIGURE 1, in the normal position of the dog carrying sleeve 145 on the body 100 of the running tool during the lowering operation, the dogs are cammed inwardly into engagement with the exterior surface 138 of the body by the engagement of the cam surface formed by the beveled lower ends of the dogs with the cam surface 159 at the lower ends of the windows of the dog carrying sleeve. Inward movement of the lower portions of the dogs is limited by the engagement of the inwardly extending bosses 170 of the dogs with the exterior surface of the body. It will be noted that in this position the exterior bosses of .the dogs do not engage the bore wall of the tubing string 20, but when a restriction in the flow conductor, such as the upwardly facing shoulder 25 at the upper end of the landing nipple 21, is encountered by the bosses of the dogs as shown in FIGURE 8, the dogs will be moved upwardly within the window 151 of .the dog carrying sleeve to a position spaced above the cam surface 159 at the lower end thereof, and an upper internal annular groove 175 formed in the exterior surface of the running tool body 100 permits inward pivotal movement of the lower ends of the dogs into such upper internal annular groove 175, as shown in FIGURE 8, whereby the dogs may readily pass through the slightly restricted bore of the landing nipple or past other restrictions in the well tubing without limiting downward movement of the well tool and the running tool through such conductors. After the dogs have moved downwardly below the obstruction or restriction, the downwardly and outwardly beveled surface 171 at the lower end of the internal bosses of the dogs rides downwardly on the outwardly and downwardly inclined surface 176 at the lower end of the annular groove in the body and the dogs are thus cammed outwardly and are then moved downwardly by the action of the spring 156 to the position shown in FIGURE 1.

Since the outwardly extending bosses 122 at the upper ends of the collet fingers 121 have a configuration conforming substantially to the configuration of the retaining groove 90 in the locking sleeve 60 of the locking device, with an abrupt inwardly and upwardly extending surface 122a at the upper end of the bosses, the engagement of the bosses in the retaining groove 90 restrains downward movement of the locking sleeve 60 relative to the mandrel and relative to the core 105 of the running tool, and thereby holds the dog carrying sleeve 145 in the upper position on the body 100 of the running tool, as shown in FIGURE 1, with the upper end of the sleeve in engagement with the downwardly facing shoulder 139 on the body. With the locking dog carrier 145 held in the upper position, the locking segments 140 are prevented from outward movement out of the groove 142 in the core and downward movement of the body causes downward movement of the core 105 and of the locking device 35 therewith.

Since the bosses 165 of the running tool dogs do not project outwardly suffieiently to engage the bore wall of the tubing string or flow conductor 20, and since the locking dogs 50 of the locking device are similarly held in the retracted position by the spring 66, it is readily apparent that neither the locking device nor the running tool itself drags in any substantial manner against the bore wall of the fiow conductor or tubing string, whereby the locking device and the running tool are readily adapted to be lowered through a flow conductor or tubing string which is coated on its inner bore walls with corrosion preventive coatings or the like.

When the assembly of the locking device and the running tool has been lowered a sufficient distance to have been moved below a landing nipple 21 in which it is desired to position and lock the locking or anchoring device 35, the flexible line L is pulled upwardly to lift the flexible line lowering mechanism J upwardly and thereby lift the running tool body 100 and the core 165 connected therewith upwardly in the well tubing. Such upward movement of the running tool and the core will lift the assembly until the outwardly projecting bosses 165 of the running tool trigger dogs engage the downwardly facing shoulder 26 at the lower end of the landing nipple 21 to prevent further upward movement of the dogs. When this condition obtains, further upward force applied to the running tool body by means of the flexible line lowering mechanism will move the dogs downwardly relative to the lower reduced portion 138 of the running tool body, moving the dog carrying sleeve 145 downwardly, since the lower ends of the dogs 156 engage the upwardly facing shoulder 159 at the lower end of the windows 151 of the dog carrier sleeve. Such downward movement of the dog carrier sleeve causes the lower end thereof to engage the upper end of the retrieving or fishing neck or sleeve 80 of the locking device 35 to force the same downwardly and thereby force the locking sleeve 60 of the locking device downwardly relative to the mandrel. Downward movement of the locking sleeve earns the bosses 122 on the collet fingers 121 carried by the core of the running tool inwardly out of the lower or first retaining groove 90 and permits the locking sleeve to move downwardly relative to the mandrel of the locking device. Such downward movement of the running tool dogs 150 relative to the running tool body continues until the internal bosses 170 at the lower ends of the dogs engage in a lower external annular groove 181 formed in the exterior of the reduced lower portion 138 of the body above the lug segments 140. The lower locking groove 181 has a downwardly and outwardly inclined shoulder 182 at its lower end and an outwardly extending abrupt shoulder 183 at its upper end, whereby when the internal bosses 170 of the dogs move downwardly into alignment with the annular groove 181 the dogs may be moved inwardly by the camming surface 159 until the abrupt upwardly facing shoulder or surfaces 172 at the upper ends of the inner bosses 170 of the dogs engage under the downwardly facing abrupt surface 183 of the locking groove, whereby the dogs are retained in such lower position. The spring 156 biases the connecting sleeve segments 155 downwardly and causes simultaneous downward movement of the dogs relative to the dog carrier sleeve 145, and the camming surface 159 at the lower end of the windows 151 assists in camming the lower ends of the dogs inwardly into the locking groove 181. The engagement of the beveled surface 166 at the upper end of the external bosses 165 of the trigger dogs with the beveled lower surface 26 of the nipple also forces the lower ends of the dogs inwardly into the locking groove. When the inner bosses of the dogs have entered the locking groove and the upwardly facing abrupt shoulders 172 on the bosses have engaged the downwardly facing abrupt shoulders 183 in the groove, the camming action of the camming surface 159 against the camming surface 160 at the lower ends of the dogs holds the dogs engaged and locked in the locking groove whereby the dogs are no longer effective to engage any portion of the tubing string or flow conductor.

With the trigger dogs held in this retracted position, the locking sleeve 60 of the latching device has been 10 moved downwardly a sufficient distance relative to the bosses 122 on the collet fingers 121 carried by the core of the running tool to engage such bosses in the upper retaining groove 93 in the bore of the locking sleeve and fishing sleeve. Since the configuration of the bosses 122 corresponds substantially to the configuration of the groove 93 and the upper surface 122a engages the abrupt shoulder 95 in such upper retaining groove, further downward movement of the locking sleeve relative to the core is resisted by such engagement of the abrupt surfaces and the locking sleeve does not move further downwardly relative to the core and to the mandrel at this time. However, the downward movement of the locking sleeve from its uppermost position to the intermediate position determined by the engagement of the bosses 122 in the retaining groove 93 has moved the lower end of the locking sleeve 60 downwardly relative to the spring 66 carried by the dog carrier 46 of the latching device. As a result, the beveled surface 60a formed at the lower end of the slot 69 engages the reverse bend 72 of the spring 66 and downward movement of the sleeve moves the lower beveled end of the sleeve at the lower end of the slot downwardly below such reverse bend, as

shown in FIGURE 5, whereby the inner portion of the reverse bend .is moved outwardly and the spring is consequently flexed outwardly to swing the lower end thereof outwardly and bias the dogs 50 outwardly laterally within the lateral apertures or slots 48 in the dog carrier sleeve 46.

With the dogs 51) biased outwardly, the outer surfaces of the bosses 51 and 52 thereon are moved into sliding engagement with the bore wall of the tubing string sections 20 and the dogs will ride along such wall until the same have been moved above the restricted bore 24 of the landing nipple 21 and above the landing and locking groove 36 therein. Downward movement of the running tool and the locking device carried thereby will now move the dogs downwardly through the bore 24 of the landing nipple and into position to be biased outwardly by the springs 66 into the locking and positioning groove 30, as shown in FIGURE 10, in which position the bosses 51 of the dogs are disposed in the groove above the internal annular flange 36a with the downwardly facing abrupt stop shoulders 54 of the dogs engaging the upwardly facing abrupt stop shoulder 33 in the groove and with the outwardly convergent shoulders of the bosses 52 disposed within the lower portion of the groove 30 between the shoulders 34 and 32. The engagement of the abrupt stop shoulders 54 of the dogs and the stop shoulder 33 of the landing nipple prevents further downward movement of the dogs and consequently prevents further downward movement of the dog carrier 46 and the mandrel 36 of the locking device relative to said landing nipple.

Continued downward jars exerted upon the running tool body 160 by means of the flexible line lowering mechanism I now causes the running tool body to move downwardly relative to the core 105, since with the trigger dogs 150 disposed within the lower locking groove 181 in the body the enlarged upper portion 146 of the bore of the dog carrying sleeve of the running tool is disposed in horizontal alignment with the lug segments 140, as shown in FIGURE 9, to permit the lug segments to move outwardly into such enlarged bore and thus to permit the running tool body 100 to move downwardly relative to the core. Downward movement of the running tool body moves downwardly with it the dog carrying sleeve 145 and, by engagement of the lower end of the dog carrying sleeve with the upper end of the retrieving neck 80 of the locking device, moves the locking sleeve 60 further downwardly on the mandrel 36. Such downward movement of the locking sleeve moves the enlarged lower locking portion of the locking sleeve between the inner surfaces of the dogs 56 and the reduced upper portion 45 of the mandrel, as shown in FIGURE 10, to positively lock the dogs in the expanded position with the bosses thereon engaged in the groove 30. The engagement of the serrated external surfaces 75 of the locking sleeve with the serrated internal surfaces 76 of the dogs will, as has already been pointed out, prevent ready disengagement of the locking sleeve from within the dogs. With the sleeve in its lowermost position, the lower end of the locking sleeve abuts the upwardly facing shoulder 36a at the lower end of the reduced upper portion of the mandrel 36 and prevents further downward movement of the locking sleeve relative to the mandrel.

Since the lug segments 140 are now disengaged from the annular groove 142 of the core, the body 100 of the running tool may be moved longitudinally upwardly as well as downwardly relative to the core throughout the entire longitudinal distance permitted by the movement of the cross bar 106 in the longitudinal slots 109 of the body. Hence, the body may be moved upwardly until the cross bar 106 engages the lower end of the slot 109, whereupon further upward movement of the body relative to the core is prevented and upward jarring force applied by means of the flexible line operating mechanism J is transmitted directly from the running tool body 100 to the core 105 to shear the pin 110 connecting the core to the mandrel 36 of the locking device. When the pin 110 has been sheared, the running tool is disconnected from the locking device and may be lifted completely out of the bore of the well flow conductor or tubing leaving the locking device anchored in the landing nipple 21 as shown in FIGURE 12.

The sealing assembly 38 engaging the smooth sealing surface 24a in the bore of the nipple 21 below the groove 30 to direct flow of fluids through the bore of the flow control device or other well tool 43 connected to the lower end of the mandrel 36 of the locking device, and such flow continues upwardly through the bore 37 of such locking device to the tubing string thereabove. It is readily apparent that fluid pressure acting in either direction on the packing assembly cannot pass ext'eriorly of the mandrel because of the oppositely facing V-type cups 39 and 40 secured on the exterior of the mandrel and engaging the bore wall 24 of the landing nipple below the locking groove 30. Also, since the locking dogs are positively held in engagement in the locking groove 30 by the enlarged low'er locking portion of the locking sleeve 60, and since fluid pressure does not act on the locking sleeve to move the sleeve in either direction, the dogs will remain in locked engagement within the groove and positively hold the locking device locked in the landing nipple.

The running or inserting tool may now be removed from the well flow conductor and the parts thereof reset in the manner shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and connected by means of another shear pin to another locking device for installation of such other locking device in another desired or selected one of the landing nipples in the well flow conductor, or in any other well flow conductor, as desired. Obviously, the expensive, costly running tool locating and locking mechanism is removed from the well and used repeatedly for installing the relatively inexpensive locking devices as desired in a plurality of separate landing nipples or in a plurality of wells.

To retrieve the locking device 35, a retrieving tool similar to that illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,862,560, issued to James H. Bostock et al. (FIGURE 1 of said patent) is lowered into the well flow conductor by means of the flexible line operating mechanism I and the flexible line L, until the lower end of the retrieving tool (not herein shown) engages the upwardly facing shoulder 84 in the bore of the fishing neck or sleeve of the locking device and positions the pulling tool or retriving tool hook bosses within the internal annular groove 85 formed in the bore wall of the fishing neck or sleeve. With the bosses of the books of the retrieving tool engaged beneath the downwardly facing shoulder 86 at the upper end of the recess, an upward force applied by means of the flexible line operating mechanism I will lift the retrieving neck or sleeve 80 upwardly to withdraw the enlarged lower locking portion of the locking sleeve 60 from between the dogs 50 and the reduced upper portion 45 of the mandrel to per- -mit the dogs to be cammed inwardly by the engagement of the upper beveled edges of the bosses 51 and 52 of the dogs with the downwardly facing shoulders 31 and 34 in the locking and locating groove 30. Upon upward movement of the locking sleeve 60, the beveled camming surface 60a at the lower end of the groove 68 in the lower portion of said locking sleeve is moved above the reverse bend 72 in the spring 66 and the spring may then flex inwardly to bias the dogs inwardly, assisting the camming movement of the downwardly facing shoulders 31 and 34.

Should there be a substantial pressure differential acting upwardly upon the locking device 35 at the time removal thereof from the landing nipple is undertaken, it is readily apparent that the camming action of the shoulders 31 and 34 upon the beveled upper surfaces of the bosses 51 and 52 of the dogs 50 will force the dogs inwardly and causes meshing holding engagement of the serrated outer surface 75 of the locking sleeve and the serrated inner surfaces 76 of the dogs which prevents upward movement of the locking sleeve from between the dogs and, therefore, prevents disengagement of the locking device from locking engagement in the landing nipple until the pressure differential across the locking device has been reduced sufficiently to permit the lock ing sleeve to be moved upwardly.

Upon movement of the locking sleeve 60 to its uppermost position, wherein the upwardly facing shoulder 61 thereon engages the downwardly facing shoulder 62 in the dog carrying sleeve 46, continued upward force ap-. plied to the fishing neck or sleeve 80 will then lift the dog carrying sleeve 46 and the mandrel 36 connected therewith to remove the entire locking device from its position within the well conductor, whereupon the entire assembly and the retrieving tool may be lifted completely out of the well.

It will be seen also that, since the spring 66 biases the dogs inwardly toward the position shown in FIGURE 2, the dogs will not ride on or engage and scrape the inner bore wall of the tubing string or flow conductor during the removal of the device from its locked position in such tubing string. Thus the locking device is clearly adapted for use in the bore of flow conductors having coatings of various kinds thereon, such as corrosion and preventive and other protective coatings.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a new and improved locking and supporting device has been illustrated and described which has locking dogs which are normally biased inwardly during the running operation, whereby the dogs are held out of dragging engagement with the bore wall of the flow conductor through which it is being lowered to prevent damaging any coatings applied to such flow conductor and to prevent wear of the locking dogs.

It will further be seen that the locking device is provided with locking dogs which are positively held outwardly in expanded locking position by a locking sleeve movable into engagement with the dogs, and in which the locking sleeve is not exposed to the action of fluid pressure differentials within the well conductor so that the sleeve remains in the position of positive locking engage ment with the dogs when so disposed.

It is further apparent that the locking sleeve and the locking dogs are provided with interengaging serrations or teeth which interrnesh to hold the locking sleeve in locking engagement with the locking dogs when an upwardly acting pressure differential exists across the locking device, which engagement reduces the possibility of inadvertent movement of the locking sleeve from locking 13 engagement with the dogs while such pressure differential is applied to the locking device, whereby the danger of blowing the device upwardly in the well flow conductor during the removal operation is obviated.

It will further be seen that an improved running tool has been provided for inserting the locking device in the well flow conductor, which running tool has incorporated therein means for locating and positively anchoring the locking device in a desired one of a plurality of locking and landing nipples in the well flow conductor, and which running tool is provided with trigger means for sensing the position of the landing nipple and releasing the functioning parts of the running tool for the operation of locating and anchoring the locking device in such landing nipple.

It will also be seen that there has been provided an improved well tool including a landing nipple having a loeating and locking groove therein, and having oppositely facing tripping shoulders provided thereon, and a running tool which includes trigger means disposed and arranged to sense the landing nipple and which is subsequently moved to a position freeing the operating parts of the running tool for manipulation to locate and lock the locking device in the landing nipple.

It will also be apparent that the operative parts of the running tool are retracted from a projecting position after the locking device has been anchored in the landing nipple, whereupon the running tool may be removed from the well flow conductor without dragging or rubbing against the bore wall thereof during such removal.

It will particularly be seen that the locking device is provided with a minimum number of operative components and that all locating and locking functions are performed by means of the running tool, whereby the more expensive components necessary for such locating and locking functions are removed with the running tool and may be subsequently repeatedly re-used in locating and anchoring additional locking devices in other landing nipples.

It will further be apparent that the locking device and the running tool provide means for selectively locating and locking the locking device in any one of a plurality of separate longitudinally spaced-apart landing nipples or housings in a well flow conductor having identical locking and locating grooves provided therein, and that the looking device utilizes the same locking element for both cating and locking the device at a desired one of the separate spaced-apart landing nipples.

It will likewise be seen that the locking and supporting device is simple and economical in construction, positive in action, and that it may be inserted into and removed from the well flow conductor on a flexible line lowering and removing mechanism manipulated by longitudinal movement of a flexible line in the well.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A locking device for well tools including: an elongate tubular mandrel having means at its lower end for connecting a well tool to be supported thereby to said mandrel; external annular sealing means mounted on the lower portion of said mandrel above said connecting means; said mandrel having its upper portion reduced in diameter to provide an upwardly facing shoulder and an elongate reduced upper mandrel section thereabove; a dog carrying sleeve mounted on the mandrel and secured thereto coaxially of said reduced upper portion and connected with the mandrel below said reduced upper portion, whereby said dog carrying sleeve extends upwardly about said reduced upper portion of said mandrel and is spaced circumferentially therefrom and an internal annular space is formed between said mandrel and said sleeve; said sleeve having lateral window means formed therein extending upwardly from the upwardly facing shoulder on said mandrel a substantial distance longitudinally in the portion of the sleeve surrounding the reduced upper portion of the mandrel; locking dog means mounted in said window means and movable laterally of said mandrel between retracted and projecting positions through said window means; elongate resilient spring means biasing said locking dog means laterally inwardly of said sleeve to retracted position; an elongate tubular locking sleeve member slidable longitudinally on said reduced upper portion of said mandrel and within the bore of said dog carrying sleeve, said locking sleeve member having an enlarged locking surface at its lower end initially disposed above said locking dog means and movable longitudinally of said mandrel with respect thereto, downward movement of said locking sleeve member on said mandrel causing said member to engage said resilient spring means to swing said resilient spring means outwardly relative to said mandrel to move the lower end of said spring means out wardly to bias said locking dog means outwardly of said window means toward projecting locking position, said locking sleeve member being further movable downwardly between said locking dog means and said reduced portion of said mandrel when said locking dog means are in expanded position to engage and hold said locking dog means in such expanded position; means on said looking sleeve member and said dog carrying sleeve coengageable to prevent displacement of said locking sleeve member from said mandrel; and fishing neck means carried at the upper end of said locking sleeve member.

2. As a subcombination in a well tool, a running tool for inserting a removable locking device having a locking means movable thereon in a landing nipple in a well flow conductor, said running tool including: an elongate tubular body means, an elongate core member carried by said body means and telescopically slidable longitudinally within said body means; means on said core member for connecting said core member with said locking device; means mounted on said body means and engageable with said landing nipple for sensing the same as said running tool is lowered in said well conductor, said sensing means being movable on said body means of said running tool laterally between a projecting sensing position and a retracted inoperative position; actuating means movably mounted on said body means of said running tool and engageable with the locking means of the locking device for moving the same longitudinally, said actuating means being initially held against movement with respect to said body means of said running tool by said sensing means, said sensing means being releasable to permit said actuating means to mov longitudinally of said running tool to move said locking means toward locking position; and means for positively holding said sensing means in inoperative position when said actuating means moves said locking means toward locking position.

3. As a subcombination in a well tool, a landing nipple having means at its opposite ends for connecting the same in a well flow conductor; said landing nipple having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough; opposed projecting tripping shoulders formed in the bore of said landing nipple, said tripping shoulders projecting inwardly of the diameter of the bore of the well flow conductor; an internal annular locating and locking recess in the bore of said nipple intermediate the ends thereof and between said tripping shoulders, said locating and locking recess having outwardly divergent camming surfaces at the opposite longitudinally spaced ends thereof; and an internal annular flange in said recess intermediate said divergent camming surfaces, said flange having a stop shoulder formed on one side thereof projecting in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said landing nipple and having an inclined surface on the opposite side thereof extending outwardly divergently with respect to said stop shoulder and spaced from the outwardly inclined camming surface at the adjacent end of the locating and locking recess in said nipple; the bore of said nipple and the internal diameter of said annular flange in said locking recess being substantially identical and being smaller in diameter than the diameter of the bore of the well flow conductor in which the device is adapted to be connected.

4. A locking device for well tools including: an elongate tubular mandrel having means at its lower end for connecting a well tool to be supported thereby to said mandrel; external annular sealing means mounted on the lower portion of said mandrel above said connecting means; said mandrel having its upper portion reduced in diameter to provide an upwardly facing shoulder and an elongate reduced upper mandrel section thereabove; a dog carrying sleeve mounted on the mandrel and secured thereto coaxially of said reduced portion below said reduced portion, whereby said dog carrying sleeve extends upwardly about and surrounds said reduced upper portion of said mandrel and is spaced circumferentially therefrom to provide an internal annular recess therebetween; said sleeve having a pair of opposed windows formed therein extending upwardly from the upwardly facing shoulder on said mandrel a substantial distance longitudinally in a portion of the sleeve surrounding the reduced upper portion of the mandrel; a pair of locking dogs, one mounted in each of said windows and movable laterally of said mandrel between retracted and projecting positions through said windows; a pair of elongate resilient springs, each connected at its upper end with said carrier sleeve and having its other end engaging one of said locking dogs and normally biasing said locking dog laterally inwardly of said sleeve toward retracted position; an elongate tubular locking sleeve slidable longitudinally on the upper reduced portion of said mandrel and within the annular space between said mandrel and said dog carrying sleeve, said locking sleeve having an enlarged locking surface at its lower end initially disposed above said locking dogs and movable longitudinally of said mandrel downwardly between said locking dogs, downward movement of said locking sleeve engaging said each of said resilient springs to swing the lower ends of said springs outwardly relative to said mandrel to bias the locking dogs outwardly of said windows toward projecting locking position; said locking sleeve being movable further downwardly between said locking dogs and said reduced portion of the mandrel when said locking dogs are in expanded position to engage and hold said locking dogs in such expanded position; and means on said locking sleeve and said dog carrying sleeve coengageable to prevent longitudinal displacement of said locking sleeve from said mandrel.

5. A locking device for well tools including: an elongate tubular mandrel having means at its lower end for connecting a well tool to be supported thereby to said mandrel; external annular sealing means mounted on the lower portion of said mandrel above said connecting means; said mandrel having its upper portion reduced in diameter to provide an upwardly facing shoulder and an elongate reduced upper mandrel section thereabove; a dog carrying sleeve mounted on the mandrel and secured thereto coaxially of said reduced portion below said reduced portion, whereby said dog carrying sleeve extends upwardly about and surrounds said reduced upper portion of said mandrel and is spaced circumferentially therefrom to provide an internal annular recess therebetween; said sleeve having a pair of opposed windows formed therein extending upwardly from the upwardly facing shoulder on said mandrel a substantial distance longitudinally in a portion of the sleeve surrounding the reduced upper portion of the mandrel; a pair of locking dogs, one mounted in each of said windows and movable laterally of said mandrel between retracted and projecting positions through said windows; a pair of elongate resilient springs, each connected at its upper end with said carrier sleeve and having its other end engaging one of said locking dogs and normally biasing said locking dog laterally inwardly of said sleeve toward retracted position; an elongate tubular locking sleeve slidable longitudinally on the upper reduced portion of said mandrel and within the annular space between said mandrel and said dog carrying sleeve, said locking sleeve having an enlarged locking surface at its lower end initially disposed above said locking dogs and movable longitudinally of said mandrel downwardly between said locking dogs, downward movement of said locking sleeve engaging said each of said resilient springs to swing the lower ends of said springs outwardly relative to said mandrel to bias the locking dogs outwardly of said windows toward projecting locking position; said locking sleeve being movable further downwardly between said locking dogs and said reduced portion of the mandrel when said locking dogs are in expanded position to engage and hold said locking dogs in such expanded position; said locking sleeve and said locking dogs having coengageable means thereon for preventing disengagement of said locking sleeve from between said locking dogs; and means on said locking sleeve and said locking dog carrying sleeve coengageable to prevent longitudinal displacement of said locking sleeve from said mandrel.

6. A locking device including: a mandrel; a dog carrier sleeve secured to said mandrel and having a portion in annular spaced relation thereto; a plurality of locking dogs disposed between said mandrel and said carrier sleeve and held by said carrier sleeve against displacement from said mandrel, said carrier sleeve having laterally outwardly opening apertures extending longitudinally therein, said dogs having outwardly extending bosses on their outer sides movable outwardly of the apertures of the dog carrier sleeve; elongate resilient biasing means carried by said sleeve and engaging said dogs and biasing said dogs inwardly toward retracted position; a lock sleeve slidably mounted on said mandrel for movement between an initial upper position and a lower locking position, said lock sleeve having a locking surface thereon movable into engagement with said dogs to hold said dogs in expanded position when in said lower locking position; and means on said lock sleeve and said resilient biasing means coengageable upon longitudinal movement of said lock sleeve downwardly from said initial upper position to said lower locking position to move said resilient biasing means outwardly to cause movement of said dogs outwardly toward projecting locking position prior to movement of said locking surface of said lock sleeve into engagement with said dogs.

7. A locking device including: a mandrel; a dog carrier sleeve secured to said mandrel and having a portion in annular spaced relation thereto; a plurality of locking dogs disposed between said mandrel and said carrier sleeve and held by said carrier sleeve against displacement from said mandrel, said carrier sleeve having laterally outwardly opening apertures extending longitudinally therein, said dogs having outwardly extending bosses on their outer sides movable outwardly of the apertures of the dog carrier sleeve; elongate resilient biasing means carried by said sleeve and engaging said dogs and biasing said dogs inwardly toward retracted position; a lock sleeve slidably mounted on said mandrel for movement between an initial upper position and a lower locking position, said lock sleeve having a locking surface thereon movable into engagement with said dogs to hold said dogs in expanded position when in said lower locking position; means on said lock sleeve and said resilient biasing means coengageable upon longitudinal movement of said lock sleeve downwardly from said initial upper position to said lower locking position to move said resilient biasing means outwardly to cause movement of said dogs outwardly toward projecting locking position prior to movement of said locking surface of said lock sleeve into engagement with said dogs; and a retrieving connection at the upper end of said lock sleeve adapted to be engaged by a retrieving tool for lifting said lock sleeve out of locking engagement with said dogs and out of operative engagement with said resilient biasing means to permit said biasing means to move said dogs to retracted position.

8. A locking device including: a mandrel; a dog carrier sleeve secured to said mandrel and having a portion in annular spaced relation thereto; a plurality of locking dogs disposed between said mandrel and said carrier sleeve and held bysaid carrier sleeve against displacement from said mandrel, said carrier sleeve having laterally outwardly opening apertures extending longitudinally therein, said dogs having outwardly extending bosses on their outer sides movable outwardly of the apertures of the dog carrier sleeve; elongate resilient biasing means carried by said sleeve and engaging said dogs and biasing said dogs inwardly toward retracted position; a lock sleeve slidably mounted on said mandrel for movement between an initial upper position and a lower locking position, said lock sleeve having a locking surface thereon movable into engagement with said dogs to hold said dogs in expanded position when in said lower locking position; means on said lock sleeve and said resilient biasing means coengageable upon longitudinal movement of said lock sleeve downwardly from said initial upper postion to said lower locking position to move said resilient biasing means outwardly to cause movement of said dogs outwardly toward projecting locking position prior to movement of said locking surface of said lock sleeve into engagement with said dogs; means on said lock sleeve and said dog carrier sleeve coengageable to limit upward movement of said lock sleeve relative to said mandrel; means on said mandrel and said lock sleeve coengageable upon downward movement of said lock sleeve relative to said mandrel to limit downward movement of said lock sleeve on said mandrel; and a retrieving connection at the upper end of said lock sleeve adapted to be engaged by a retrieving tool for lifting said lock sleeve out of locking engagement with said dogs.

9. A locking device including: a mandrel; a dog carrier sleeve secured to said mandrel and having a portion in annular spaced relation thereto; a plurality of locking dogs disposed between said mandrel and said carrier sleeve and held by said carrier sleeve against displacement from said mandrel, said carrier sleeve having laterally outwardly opening apertures extending longitudinally therein, said dogs having outwardly extending bosses on their outer sides movable outwardly of the apertures of the dog carrier sleeve; elongate resilient biasing means carried by said sleeve and engaging said dogs and biasing said dogs inwardly toward retracted position; a lock sleeve slidably mounted on said mandrel for movement between an initial upper position and a lower locking position, said lock sleeve having a locking surface thereon movable into engagement with said dogs to hold said dogs in expanded position when in said lower locking position; means on said lock sleeve and said resilient biasing means coengageable upon longitudinal movement of said lock sleeve downwardly from said initial upper position to said lower locking position to move said resilient biasing means outwardly to cause movement of said dogs outwardly toward projecting locking position prior to movement of said locking surface of said lock sleeve into engagement with said dogs; and coengageable locking surfaces on the lock surface of said lock sleeve and on the inner surfaces of said dogs preventing longitudinal movement of said lock sleeve relative to said dogs when said lock surface of said lock sleeve is disposed in engagement with said dogs and said dogs are biased inwardly by an upwardly and outwardly acting force exerted thereon.

10. A locking device including: a mandrel; a dog carrier sleeve secured to said mandrel and having a portion in annular spaced relation thereto; a plurality of locking dogs disposed between said mandrel and said carrier sleeve and held by said carrier sleeve against displacement from said mandrel, said carrier sleeve having laterally outwardly opening apertures extending longitudinally therein, said dogs having outwardly extending bosses on their outer sides movable outwardly of the apertures of the dog carrier sleeve; elongate resilient biasing means carried by said sleeve and engaging said dogs and biasing said dogs inwardly toward retracted position; a lock sleeve slidably mounted on said mandrel for movement between an initial upper position and a lower locking position, said lock sleeve having a locking surface thereon movable into engagement with said dogs to hold said dogs in expanded position when in said lower locking position; means on said lock sleeve and said resilient biasing means coengageable upon longitudinal movement of said lock sleeve downwardly from said initial upper position to said lower locking position to move said resilient biasing means outwardly to cause movement of said dogs outwardly toward projecting look: ing position prior to movement of said locking surface of said lock sleeve into engagement with said dogs, the inner surfaces of said dogs having horizontally disposed serrations formed thereon throughout the length of such inner surface, and the outer surface of said lock surface of said lock sleeve having external horizontal serrations formed thereon matching the serrations of said dogs in engagement therewith to prevent unintentional disengagement of said lock sleeve from locking engagement with said dogs; and a retrieving connection at the upper end of said lock sleeve adapted to be engaged by a retrieving tool for lifting said lock sleeve out of locking engagement with said dogs.

11. An inserting tool for locating and anchoring a well tool locking device in a landing nipple having upwardly and downwardly facing shoulders thereon and an internal recess between said shoulders, said landing nipple being connectable in a flow conductor to constitute a section thereof, said inserting tool including: an elongate body having a longitudinal bore therein; means on the upper end of said body for attaching said body to a raising and lowering mechanism; an elongate coreinember slidable longitudinally in the bore of said body and projecting longitudinally beyond the lower end of said body; means providing a slidable connection between said body and said core; means on said core for detachably connecting said core with said well tool locking device to be locked in said landing nipple; means on said core engageable with said well tool locking device for initially preventing locking engagement of said well tool locking device with' said landing nipple; sensing means carried by said body and having means projecting outwardly therefrom and engageable with the shoulders of said landing nipple forsensing the same, said sensing means being movable on said body laterally'between a projecting sensing position and a retracted inoperative position; actuating means movably mounted on said body and slidable'longitudinally thereof; and restraining means carried by said body and engageable with said core for preventing longitudinal movement of said body relative to said core, said actuating means engaging said restraining means, movement of said sensing means to retracted position moving said actuating means longitudinally relative to said body to release said restraining means whereby said body may move downwardly longitudinally relative to said core, downward movement of said body moving said actuating means downwardly therewith, said actuating means being adapted to engage said well tool locking device for actuating the same into locking position relative to said recess of said landing nipple upon such downward movement.

12. An inserting tool of the character set forth in claim 11 wherein said actuating means is provided with cam surface means engageable with said sensing means for moving said sensing means inwardly to retracted posi tion; and biasing means is carried by said actuating means and engageable with said sensing means for biasing said sensing means into engagement with said camming surface; and means is provided on said body initially preventing inward retracting movement of said sensing means.

13. An inserting tool of the character set forth in claim 11 wherein the means on said core for detachably connecting said core with said well tool locking device comprises a transverse bore adapted to receive a shear pin extending therethrough and into engagement with said well tool locking device, said shear pin being shearable to permit disengagement of said core from said well tool locking device.

14. An inserting tool of the character set forth in claim 11, wherein biasing means is provided on said body between said actuating means and said sensing means biasing said sensing means longitudinally relative to said body, and wherein said sensing means is movable upwardly longitudinally relative to said body upon engaging said upwardly facing shoulder of said landing nipples; said core having an extrenal recess therein accommodating said sensing means to permit said sensing means to retract to inoperative position to pass said shoulder; said biasing means biasing said sensing means downwardly and outwardly to projecting position.

15. An inserting tool for locating and anchoring a well tool locking device in a landing nipple having upwardly and downwardly facing shoulders thereon and an internal recess between said shoulders, said landing nipple being connectable in a well flow conductor to constitute a section thereof, said inserting tool including: an elongate body having a longitudinal bore therein; means at the upp r end of said body for connecting said body to a mechanism by means of which said body may be moved longitudinally in a well flow conductor; an elongate core 'member slidable longitudinally of the bore of said body and having its lower portion projecting beyond the lower end of said body; means providing a slidable connection between said body and said core and limiting longitudinal movement of said body relative to said core; an actuating sleeve slidably mounted on said body and having opposed longitudinally extending lateral apertures formed therein; elongate sensing members movably mounted on said body within said actuating sleeve and having projecting bosses extending outwardly of said apertures in said sleeve, said sensing members being movable longitudinally relative to said .body and relative to said actuating sleeve; \biasing means carried by said actuating sleeve and engageable with said sensing means for biasing said sensing means downwardly relative to said actuating sleeve; latching means carried by said body and engaging said core and said sleeve holding said body against longitudinal movement relative to said core, said actuating sleeve engaging said latching means to hold said latching means in latching engagement with said core and said body; said body having a pair of annular external grooves thereon spaced above said latching means and an external annular flange having an external cylindrical surface thereon between said grooves, said flange surface engaging said sensing members to hold said sensing members in projecting sensing position, said sensing members having bosses thereon adapted to engage the upwardly and downwardly facing shoulders of said landing nipple, engagement of said bosses with said upwardly facing shoulder of said landing nipple moving said sensing members upwardly of said actuating sleeve and said body to said upper annular groove on said body to permit said bosses to swing inwardly to retracted position; engagement of said bosses of said sensing means with said downwardly facing shoulder of said landing nipple moving said sensing members downwardly of said body to move said actuating sleeve downwardly relative to said body, said actuating sleeve having camming surfaces at the lower ends of said Windows engageable by said lower ends of said sensing means for moving said lower ends of said sensing means inwardly of said lower annular groove on said body to permit the bosses of said sensing means to move to retracted inoperative position, said biasing means biasing said sensing means into camming engagement with said camming surfaces; inwardly projecting means on the lower ends of said sensing means engageable with the under side of said flange on said body to hold said sensing means downwardly in said lower position on said body; said actuating sleeve having a relief groove therein permitting said latching means to move outwardly out of latching engagement with said core upon downward movement of said sleeve relative to said body to permit said body to move longitudinally relative to said core; engagement of said shoulder on said body with said inwardly projecting means on said sensing means moving said actuating sleeve downwardly with said body when said body is moved downwardly on said core, such downward movement of said actuating sleeve being adapted to move said well tool locking device to locking position relative to said internal recess of said landing nipple.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,671,512 3/54 Ragan et a1. 166-136 2,673,614 3/54 Miller 1662l4 2,862,560 12/58 Bostock et al 166125 2,871,947 2/59 Fredd 166214 2,887,163 5/59 McGowen et a1 1662l7 2,920,704 1/60 Fredd 166--125 3,002,565 10/61 Moore 166217 3,102,593 9/63 Sizer 166217 FOREIGN PATENTS 851,104 10/ Great Britain.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. 

6. A LOCKING DEVICE INCLUDING: A MANDREL; A DOG CARRIER SLEEVE SECURED TO SAID MNDREL AND HAVING A PORTION IN ANNULAR SPACED RELATION THERETO; A PLURALITY OF LOCKING DOGS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID MANDREL AND SAID CARRIER SLEEVE AND HELD BY SAID CARRIER SLEEVE AGAINST DISPLACEMENT FROM SAID MANDREL, SAID CARRIER SLEEVE HAVING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OPENING APERTURES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREIN, SAID DOGS HAVING OUTWARDLY EXTENDING BOSSES ON THEIR OUTER SIDES MOVABLE OUTWARDLY OF THE APERTURES OF THE DOG CARRIER SLEEVE; ELONGATED RESILIENT BIASING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SLEEVE AND ENGAGING SAID DOGS AND BIASING SAID DOGS INWARDLY TOWARD RETRACTED POSITION; A LOCK SLEEVE SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID MANDREL FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN INITIAL UPPER POSITION AND A LOWER LOCKING POSITION, SAID LOCK SLEEVE HAVING A LOCKING SURFACE THEREONF MOVABLE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GODS TO HOLD SAID DOGS IN EXPANDED POSITION WHEN IN SAID LOWER LOCKING POSITION; AND MEANS ON SAID LOCK SLEEVE AND SAID RESILIENT BIASING MEANS COENGAGEABLE UPON LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LOCK SLEEVE DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID INITIAL UPPER POSITION TO SAID LOWER LOCKING POSITION TO MOVE SAID RESILIENT BIASING MEAN OUTWADLY TO CAUSE MOVEMENT OF SID DOGS OUTWARDLY TOWARD PROJECTING LOCKING POSITION PRIRA TO MOVEMENT OF SAID LOCKING SURFACE OF SAID LOCK SLEEVE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DOGS. 